While there were several mid-tier teams available, none had the capability to build engines or offer a winning driver.

Over the past year, Dodge also has expanded its footprint in other motor sports with younger demographics such as rallycross, sports cars and motocross. Gilles said the company was satisfied with the return on its investment in NASCAR (noting a tripling of the at-track marketing budget) and that its exit wasn't because of dollars.

"It was everything from driver selection, the (available) teams, the engine, you name it," he said. "It's a very, very complex situation.

"We are just as devastated as everyone else, and it's with a heavy, heavy heart that we feel a little bit disappointed (for) our fans who have been there for a long time through thick and thin. But at the same time, hopefully they understand that we don't want to show up and go racing. We want to win."

Dodge made a much ballyhooed return to NASCAR in 2001 after a 24-year absence with grandiose goals of wins and championships. But the manufacturer was unable to win a title, and the size of its lineup dwindled along with its success.

After once having several multicar teams, Dodge had only Penske's two-car organization since 2010.

"When you look at the limited number of teams they've had, you had to feel like this was something that was coming," said Jeff Gordon, who has won four titles in a Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. "They're not growing. I'm sure Penske was questioning that commitment. I guess it's not a huge surprise to me, but it is unfortunate, because you want to see as many manufacturers, especially somebody like Dodge that has a heritage in our sport."

But the on-track impact will be minimal on competition. Penske, which has a championship contender in Brad Keselowski, could get stronger next season when it begins running engines from Roush Yates Racing, the top Ford supplier.

"There's only two Dodges now, so to say it affects racing would be silly," Toyota driver Martin Truex Jr. said. "If there were eight or 10 like Chevrolets, it'd be a huge deal. Things won't change a whole lot."

It will hurt the prospects of midpack teams seeking to join the elite via a manufacturer-driven jolt of cash and technical support. Furniture Row Racing, a single-car Chevrolet team, was talking with Dodge in hopes of adding a second car.

"There's a lot of teams that could have used some factory help," Truex said. "That would have been a good option for them."

There is a chance that independent teams still could use leftover Dodge chassis and engines next season without being under the manufacturer's banner, and Gilles didn't rule out the possibility of returning to NASCAR.

"Dodge has been a great partner to NASCAR for many years, and they have been part of numerous memorable moments throughout our history," NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France said in a statement. "They made a business decision not to return in 2013, as they did in 1977 before returning in 2001. We wish them well and hope they again will choose to return to NASCAR at a later date."

Said Carl Edwards: "I have a feeling that they'll be back. There's a reason so many people market in NASCAR and so many manufacturers are a part of it because it's a great way to sell products to people and get the message out to people in a really fun and exciting way."

Dodge will have a souvenir from its 11-year foray: a 2013 model that was introduced at a glitzy news conference at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March and approved by NASCAR last week.

"We were actually just a few days ago working on data acquisition and all kinds of stuff on that car," Gilles said. "We have been developing that car for a few years now, and the team is quite passionate about it. It will make a beautiful sculpture in the meantime."

That might be little consolation to the legions of passionate Dodge fans whom Gilles said had been bombarding him on Twitter and e-mail.

"I just want to take all of the Dodge fans and give them a big hug, and we can have a beer together, because we are not excited about this," he said. "But it's the reality of where we're at right now."

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